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Natural and reverse turns

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A natural turn is a dance step in which the partners turn around a common center clockwise. Its near-mirror counterpart is the reverse turn, which is turning counter-clockwise.[1]

This terminology is used mainly in the "International Standard" group of ballroom dances.[2] "Natural turn" and "reverse turn" are names of syllabus figures in waltz, Viennese waltz, foxtrot, quickstep. In addition, the words "natural" and "reverse" are used in some other figures that amount to turning to the right or left, respectively, e.g. natural twist turn in tango and foxtrot.

The name "natural" has two explanations. In a standard ballroom closed dance position the partners are somewhat shifted to the left with respect to each other, which makes the right turn easier.[3][4] The second reason is related to progress around the floor along the counter-clockwise line of dance. Turning to the right is partly compensated for by the line of dance's leftward curve, so that it takes less effort to stay on line of dance while turning to the right than while using opposite footwork and turning to the left, especially at the corners.

Natural turn

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Leader (man)
Beat Foot position Alignment Amount of turn Footwork
1 Right foot forward Facing diagonal wall Begin to turn right Heel – toe
2 Left foot side Backing diagonal center 1⁄4 between 1 and 2 Toe
3 Right foot closes to left foot Backing line of dance 1⁄8 between 2 and 3 Toe – heel
4 Left foot back Backing line of dance Begin to turn right Toe – heel
5 Right foot side Pointing diagonal center 3⁄8 between 4 and 5, body turns less Toe
6 Left foot closes to right foot Facing diagonal center Body completes turn Toe – heel
Follower (lady)
Beat Foot position Alignment Amount of turn Footwork
1 Left foot back Backing diagonal wall Begin to turn right Toe – heel
2 Right foot side Pointing line of dance 3⁄8 between 1 and 2 (body turns less) Toe
3 Left foot closes to right foot Facing line of dance Body completes turn Toe – heel
4 Right foot forward Facing line of dance Begin to turn right Heel – toe
5 Left foot side Backing center 1⁄4 between 4 and 5 Toe
6 Right foot closes to left foot Backing diagonal center 1⁄8 between 5 and 6 Toe – heel

[5]

Other "natural" figures

[edit]

Reverse turn

[edit]
Leader (man)
Beat Foot position Alignment Amount of turn Footwork
1 Left foot forward Facing diagonal center Begin to turn left Heel – toe
2 Right foot side Backing digonal wall 1⁄4 between 1 and 2 Toe
3 Left foot closes to right foot Backing line of dance 1⁄8 between 2 and 3 Toe – heel
4 Right foot back Backing line of dance Begin to turn left Toe – heel
5 Left foot side Pointing diagonal wall 3⁄8 between 4 and 5, body turns less Toe
6 Right foot closes to left foot Facing diagonal wall Body completes turn Toe – heel
Follower (lady)
Beat Foot position Alignment Amount of turn Footwork
1 Right foot back Backing diagonal center Begin to turn left Toe – heel
2 Left foot side Pointing line of dance 3⁄8 between 1 and 2 (body turns less) Toe
3 Right foot closes to left foot Facing line of dance Body completes turn Toe – heel
4 Left foot forward Facing line of dance Begin to turn left Heel – toe
5 Right foot side Backing wall 1⁄4 between 4 and 5 Toe
6 Left foot closes to right foot Backing diagonal wall 1⁄8 between 5 and 6 Toe – heel

[1]

Other "reverse" figures

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Reverse turn". BallroomDancers.com. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
  2. ^ International Dance Syllabus
  3. ^ "What Is Natural About A Natural Turn?". Round Dancing. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  4. ^ "How to do a Dance Turn: Reverse and Natural Turns". SocialBallroom.dance. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  5. ^ "Natural turn". BallroomDancers.com. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
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